--Falcons coach Mike Smith likes the linebackers from USC, who are eligible for the draft. At least two of them could be on the board when the Falcons select with the 24th pick in the draft.
Brian Cushing and Rey Maualuga are being projected to go early in the first round. Clay Matthews Jr., whose father played for the Falcons, and Kaluka Maiava will be available at 24. Maiava is not generally considered a first round pick and could be taken later in the draft.
"They are very impressive," Smith said. "There are four guys that are definitely going to have an opportunity to play in the NFL. It's been well documented that there are going to be some guys that get drafted very early."
Smith seems some similarities in the group of USC linebackers.
"I think there is one common theme that these guys have and that's they enjoy playing the game of football," Smith said. "That's very obvious when you watch those guys on tape. They play with a lot of intensity. They play with a lot of passion. They have different sizes. They run differently, but the one thing that they do is that they play, very, very hard."
The Falcons are rebuilding their linebacking corps after Keith Brooking (Dallas) and Michael Boley (New York Giants) left during free agency.
--Also, tight end Jared Cook is coming in for a visit. He's a local player from North Gwinnett High and South Carolina and will not count against the limit of pre-draft players the Falcons can bring in. The Falcons flirted with signing tight end L.J. Smith, who ended up signing with the Ravens, and may be looking for a receiving tight end in the draft. The draft is considered to be deep at that position.
--Falcons owner Arthur Blank is in favor of an expanded schedule and thinks the league can achieve labor peace with the NFLPA.
"We want to do the right thing for the fans," Blank said.
--The Falcons were able to keep the core of their coaching staff in place.
They only lost assistant special teams coach Tom McMahon, who left to become the special teams coordinator for the St. Louis Rams.
"Tom did a great job for us," Smith said.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's going to be a critical time for us if we are going to sustain what we started last year." -- Falcons coach Mike Smith on the start of offseason workouts.
